The group also examined demographic trends and other data within various churches, and in their surrounding communities.

That fact has many parishes in the city of Detroit and inner suburbs especially worried their struggling churches will be hit hardest. Archbishop Allen Vigeneron will make a final announcement early next year.

The Detroit Archdiocese covers six counties in southeast Michigan, and has been working to close and merge parishes through its “Together in Faith” effort since 2003.

It already closed or merged 29 parishes in 2005, due to declining church attendance, financial troubles, and a lack of priests.